Mounting apparatus for fan and cooling device using the same

Abstract

A mounting apparatus for an easily-demountable fan and cooling devices includes a fan housing for accommodating the fan and a locking unit rotatably installed to the fan housing. The locking unit is rotatable between a locking position and an unlocking position. The locking unit includes a locking portion. When the locking unit rotates to the locking position, the locking portion protrudes out of the fan housing for easy manual access, and when the locking unit rotates to the unlocking position, the locking portion is received in the fan housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mounting apparatus for fan comprising:
 a fan housing for accommodating the fan; and 
 a locking unit rotatably installed to the fan housing, and the locking unit is rotatable between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein the locking unit comprises a locking portion; 
 when the locking unit rotates to the locking position, the locking portion protrudes out of the fan housing; and when the locking unit rotates to the unlocking position, the locking portion is received in the fan housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting apparatus further comprises a resilient member connected between the locking unit and the fan housing;
 when the locking unit is forced to rotate to the locking position, the resilient member is elastically deformed; and when the locking unit is released, the locking portion is driven to rotate to the unlocking position under restoring force of the resilient member. 
 
     
     
       3. The mounting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the fan housing comprises:
 a shell defining an accommodating space; and 
 a cover mounted to the shell and defines a receiving slot; 
 wherein the resilient member is received in the receiving slot. 
 
     
     
       4. The mounting apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the locking unit comprises:
 a cantilever comprising two opposing ends; 
 a handle connected to an end of the cantilever; and 
 a resisting portion located at the other end of the cantilever; 
 wherein the resisting portion contacts with the resilient member; the cantilever is rotatably connected in the shell, the locking portion is located at a peripheral side of the cantilever, and the handle protrudes out of the shell; 
 when the handle is forced, the cantilever rotates and drives the locking portion to rotate to the unlocking position, the resisting portion resists against the resilient member and drives the resilient member to elastically deformed; when the handle is released, the cantilever rotates backwards under restoring force of the resilient member and the locking portion is driven back to the locking position. 
 
     
     
       5. The mounting apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the cantilever defines a pivot hole; the mounting apparatus further comprises a pivot pin corresponding to the pivot hole, the pivot pin is fixed to the shell, and the cantilever is rotatably connected to the shell through the pivot pin and the pivot hole. 
     
     
       6. The mounting apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the resilient member comprises:
 a guiding portion slidably received in the receiving slot; and 
 an elastic sheet connected to a side of the guiding portion and contacts with the locking unit. 
 
     
     
       7. The mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting apparatus further comprises a plurality of backing rings and screws for mounting the fan to the fan housing. 
     
     
       8. A cooling device comprising:
 a fan; and 
 a mounting apparatus for the fan, comprising:
 a fan housing for accommodating the fan; and 
 a locking unit rotatably installed to the fan housing, and the locking unit is rotatable between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein the locking unit comprises a locking portion; 
 when the locking unit rotates to the locking position, the locking portion protrudes out of the fan housing; and when the locking unit rotates to the unlocking position, the locking portion is received in the fan housing. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The cooling device of  claim 8 , wherein the mounting apparatus further comprises a resilient member connected between the locking unit and the fan housing;
 when the locking unit is forced to rotate to the locking position, the resilient member is elastically deformed; and when the locking unit is released, the locking portion is driven to rotate to the unlocking position under restoring force of the resilient member. 
 
     
     
       10. The cooling device of  claim 9 , wherein the fan housing comprises:
 a shell defining an accommodating space; and 
 a cover mounted to the shell and defines a receiving slot; 
 wherein the resilient member is received in the receiving slot. 
 
     
     
       11. The cooling device of  claim 10 , wherein the locking unit comprises:
 a cantilever comprising two opposing ends; 
 a handle connected to an end of the cantilever; and 
 a resisting portion located at the other end of the cantilever; 
 wherein the resisting portion contacts with the resilient member; the cantilever is rotatably connected in the shell, the locking portion is located at a peripheral side of the cantilever, and the handle protrudes out of the shell; 
 when the handle is forced, the cantilever rotates and drives the locking portion to rotate to the unlocking position, the resisting portion resists against the resilient member and drives the resilient member to elastically deformed; when the handle is released, the cantilever rotates backwards under restoring force of the resilient member and the locking portion is driven back to the locking position. 
 
     
     
       12. The cooling device of  claim 11 , wherein the cantilever defines a pivot hole; the mounting apparatus further comprises a pivot pin corresponding to the pivot hole, the pivot pin is fixed to the shell, and the cantilever is rotatably connected to the shell through the pivot pin and the pivot hole. 
     
     
       13. The cooling device of  claim 10 , wherein the resilient member comprises:
 a guiding portion slidably received in the receiving slot; and 
 an elastic sheet connected to a side of the guiding portion and contacts with the locking unit. 
 
     
     
       14. The cooling device of  claim 8 , wherein the mounting apparatus further comprises a plurality of backing rings and screws for mounting the fan to the fan housing. 
     
     
       15. The cooling device of  claim 8 , wherein the fan comprises:
 a bracket comprising:
 a first mounting plate; and 
 a second mounting plate parallel with the first mounting plate; and 
 
 a plurality of fan blades pivotally installed to the bracket; 
 wherein each of the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate defines a plurality of first mounting holes; the fan housing defines a plurality of second mounting holes corresponding to the first mounting holes; the bracket is accommodated in the fan housing and mounted to the fan housing through the first mounting holes, the second mounting holes and screws. 
 
     
     
       16. The cooling device of  claim 9 , wherein the fan further comprises:
 a first light pipe received in a second mounting hole; and 
 a second light pipe received in a first mounting hole.